RANK #377 / 996 · POP 102,916 · KY
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.2%
Daviess County, Kentucky, is known for its distinctive barbecue mutton and its historical role in bourbon distilling. The county seat, Owensboro, sits along the Ohio River, approximately an hour's drive southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and about two hours north of Nashville, Tennessee. The community offers a blend of urban amenities in Owensboro and a more rural feel in its smaller towns like Whitesville and Philpot. Commutes within the county are generally short, ranging from 5 to 20 minutes. The landscape features flat areas near the river and rolling hills to the south, with numerous parks like Yellow Creek and Panther Creek offering hiking, fishing, and disc golf.
Life in Daviess County appeals to families, with public schools in the Daviess County Public School District generally performing above average. The cost of living is lower than the national average. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture and manufacturing, is experiencing growth driven by investments in various sectors. Recent expansions in manufacturing and other industries have created new jobs. The county's river port also plays a role in commerce, facilitating the movement of goods.
Well below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.7x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Reid - Daviess Co 161 kV Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Owensboro Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$150M | Planned |
|
Daviess County RNG Project (Landfill Gas-to-Energy)
Red Tail Renewables / Pacolet Milliken / Inyarek partners (TC Energy for pipeline connection)
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Public Safety Facility (Sheriff's Office, Fire Station, EMA, Backup Dispatch)
Daviess County
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Daviess County has a Boom Town Index score of 62/100, ranking #377 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.3% and a median household income of $64,021, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Daviess County is $171,100 with median rent at $890/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3742, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.3%. Home values changed +2.0% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.71% of Daviess County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.